The program has started in Lugano, where the participants were introduced to their trip to China through several lectures and workshops. They were also introduced to their assignments to be carried out in teams. Visits to the Swiss companies AgieCharmilles in Losone und Geberit in Jona were very valuable, as the participants could experience the relevance of innovation capabilities and lean production for the international competitiveness of the Swiss economy from first hand sources.

Supported by swissnex China, the group had the opportunity to visit several companies and universities in cities as Shanghai, Suzhou, Dongguan or Beijing. Company chairmen and professors as well as officials from the government showed how businesses work out in China. Inspired by the interesting insights some students even decide to apply for either a job or an internship in a Chinese company.

During numerous company visits and research institutes in China the students should outline their findings to topics as «production», «logistics», «design» as well as «human resources» and compare their impressions of each company and the two countries. The field trips and lectures have been completed by speeches of the responsible Swiss Consul General in Shanghai, Heinrich Schellenberg, and Didier Boschung, Swiss Consul General in Guangzhou as well as Salome Meyer, Deputy Head of Mission of the Swiss Embassy in Beijing, giving the students first hand insight into the Sino-Swiss cooperation from the view of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

The program is organized by ISTEP (SUPSI) and Institute of Sustainable Development (INE) from the ZHAW School of Engineering and aims to educate engineers with an interest in technology transfer and innovation engineering, international supply chains and intercultural management. Dr. Claudio Boër, SUPSI Vice President, and Stefan Dingerkus, senior lecturer for logistics INE, are looking forward to 2015’s program.